Brilliant news this week: we are finalists in three categories of the Community Energy England Awards this year.

We’re shortlisted for the Climate & Environmental Impact, the Community Energy Organisation of the Year and Fuel Poverty Action. 

The Community Energy Awards is an annual event that recognises and celebrates outstanding achievements in community energy. This ceremony brings together individuals, organisations, and initiatives that are making significant contributions to the advancement of sustainable and locally-driven energy solutions. This year’s ceremony, supported by Electricity North West, will take place in Manchester on Friday 17 November, 6-10pm.

Karen Mitchell, our CEO explains what the shortlisting means to us, “Its brilliant to have been nominated for three awards in recognition of the talent and dedication of the CAfS team, our passion for our precious environment here in Cumbria and our determination to fight climate change. We are inspired by the rural communities we work with to help tackle fuel poverty, support the retrofit of buildings and the installation of solar panels and many other projects besides. Through the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership we are working collaboratively with a host of diverse organisations to make a difference for future generations. We are all proud of our work and of this recognition and want to take the opportunity to congratulate the other nominees, all of which are deserving.”

Read an outline of the three awards below, and what the panel has said about our nominations.  We can’t wait!

Fuel Poverty Action: This award celebrates the contributions of community energy organisations in addressing the multifaceted challenges of fuel poverty and energy efficiency in England.  We’ve been nominated for our  ‘Cold to Cosy Homes’ project – which is recognised as being transformational, wide-reaching and a provider of comprehensive support.

Climate and Environmental Impact: This award recognises community energy organisations that are proactively addressing environmental issues or contributing positively to local environments and biodiversity, and inspiring others through their activities. We have been nominated thanks to our active engagement in education, environmental conservation, and empowering individuals and communities to make sustainable choices. The award recognizes that we reduce emissions through projects like Cold to Cosy Homes and Solar Made Easy. And that these community-driven renewable energy initiatives are engaging local communities in energy-saving activities and reducing overall carbon footprint. We are continuing to pave the way for a sustainable future, demonstrating that collective action and community engagement can create lasting change.

Community Energy Organisation of the Year (large) : This award recognises one community energy organisation that has demonstrated excellence across their operations, delivery, impact, engagement, innovation, and contribution to the broader sector.  We have been nominated for our work steering the Zero Carbon Cumbria partnership. This award recognises our multi-faceted approach that includes community events, mapping tools, and local partnerships, ensuring impactful climate action with data-driven strategies for emissions reduction. Our innovative projects, community engagement, and supportive work culture are all recognised as setting a remarkable precedent for climate charities nationwide.

We’ll be sharing the awards on the 17 November  – so look out for us on our social channels.